Weather means atmospheric conditions including wind, temperature and precipitation, often in a specific area or at a specific time.
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4answers
85 views
Do IFR / VFR weather minimums include ceilings?
I'm not really sure how to ask my question, but there are classifications for weather conditions for MVFR, IFR, and LIFR. The FAA also has weather minimums for flying VFR in the different airspaces ...
6
votes
2answers
295 views
How did this air force plane likely get into the eye of Hurricane Florence? [duplicate]
The annotation for this CNN video says
Air Force plane flies into Hurricane Florence
Watch as a US Air Force plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Florence to collect weather data for the ...
3
votes
2answers
94 views
Is the size of hail on the ground any indication of the winds and updrafts of a thunderstorm?
Is there any rule of thumb or way to estimate the wind speeds or up and down drafts inside a storm by the size of hail that reaches the ground?
8
votes
2answers
319 views
Can small planes see lights on the ground?
I live about 5 miles from a small airport. At night, during rain or snow storms when I imagine there would be poor visibility, I always turn our outside house lights on, in case they could possibly ...
8
votes
2answers
188 views
When the winds aloft are light and variable, what wind direction and speed should I use for flight planning?
What do you input in a navlog for wind direction and velocity, when the wind and temp forecast says 9900+18? I know 9900 means light and variable winds less than 5kts but how do I determine the ...
2
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1answer
75 views
Where can I find the German GAFOR online?
Where can I access the GAFOR for Germany for free online (or at least something close)?
0
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1answer
50 views
Weather Reporting of wind direction [duplicate]
General weather reporting for wind direction in Australian Standard the degrees in wind direction identifies where the wind is coming from.
Is it the same around the world?
3
votes
1answer
112 views
In an ATIS broadcast, is the visibility in statute or nautical miles?
I think I remember seeing somewhere that since it's an observation at the surface, statute miles are used for the visibility. Would be nice if someone had a reference.
21
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3answers
3k views
Was ATC overstepping its boundaries when advising a pilot to ignore a cell warning?
I found a clip on YouTube (via an article on Jalopnik) of an Aer Lingus pilot departing from JFK. Due to a weather cell showing up on his instruments, he can not make the left ATC asks him to make.
...
13
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1answer
2k views
Why is the flight duration of the same flight different in different months? [duplicate]
For example:
CX880 (HKG TO LAX) takes 13h40m on the 2nd of August, but only takes 12h50m in September.
CI008 (TPE TO LAX) is the same; it takes half an hour less in September than in August.
What ...
23
votes
3answers
3k views
How do hot air balloons navigate?
Hot air balloons are quite obviously carried along with the wind, so how can they be navigated? Choosing the correct launch point relative to the desired landing point would seem to play a major part ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Can a weather forecast tell me if airplanes will leave long contrails? [duplicate]
Training 7 ball and 5 club juggling requires me to look up into the sky for durations of up to one minute. Frequently, this is very taxing on my eyes and, frustratingly, requires me to wear sunglasses....
0
votes
1answer
106 views
What does this wind symbol mean? [duplicate]
At https://www.aviationweather.gov on the Forecasts puldown, then the Aviation Forecasts selection, the chart opens and often shows what looks like a letter R with a tail in the lower right, in ...
3
votes
2answers
222 views
Icing conditions temperature range: SAT or TAT?
Considering the general rule of thumb defining potential icing conditions: temperature between +10 and -40 degrees C and presence of visible moisture,
is the temperature range regarding TAT (total ...
3
votes
1answer
321 views
Why were these Hawkeyes flying in a circular pattern?
A couple of months ago I was near the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, when I saw 3 or 4 planes flying in a tight circular pattern. The planes were on the larger side, prop driven and had large ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
Why does GR mean hail in a METAR?
Wouldn't you think they'd choose HL instead?
That might confuse pilots who frequently see SS (Sandstorms),
DS (Dust Storms) and VA (Volcanic Ash).
1
vote
1answer
159 views
What API can I use to get FAA NOTAMS or will this one I found work?
I am not sure if this is the correct place to ask this because it has to do with APIs with XML/JSON/SOAP, but it also has to do with aviation.
I am in dire need to find an API associated with the FAA ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
What to do when moisture forms on the helicopter's canopy in a weather front?
Moisture has condensed on the canopy of your helicopter as you fly through a weather front – what should you do?
2
votes
1answer
88 views
What does “RA” mean in the FAA Terminal Constraints?
I'm trying to interpret the Terminal Constraints listed on the Operations Plan Advisory (https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp). RA seems to be used in the context of weather, but I haven't been ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
What do these numbers and symbols on the ICAO SIGMET chart represent?
Anybody who can identify the numbers and alphabets in the red, green, and purple circles on the chart above?
1
vote
1answer
122 views
How can I find out what time an airport was closed due to weather?
Where do I find at what time an airport was closed, due to inclement weather, on a specific date? I completed the first leg of my flight, which was one hour from take-off to landing. When I arrived in ...
5
votes
2answers
501 views
How do modern commercial aircraft handle dust storms?
I live in West Texas where dust storms are an occasional fact of life. I am interested in how modern jet aircraft handle dust storms such as the one seen in the photo. From a pilot POV I can see that ...
3
votes
1answer
304 views
What's the difference between aquaplane and hydroplane?
If one reads through 10 articles describing a plane which overran a contaminated runway, the term aquaplane will be used 9 times and the term hydroplane once (and on that one time there will be a ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
What is the reason behind the colors used for different flight categories?
In Skyvector, Foreflight and Aviation Weather Center the following colors are used for flight conditions:
LIFR = Magenta
IFR = Red
MVFR = Blue
VFR = Green
In most contexts, red is used as the ...
1
vote
2answers
202 views
How can an inexperienced pilot tell if the weather is good enough for flying?
When I look at weather in the morning of my flight, it looks good. However, the actual determination can be made later during the day closer to my flight time.
Being a student pilot, how can I ...
3
votes
1answer
256 views
Can aircraft depart/arrive after another aircraft has sprayed snow on the runway?
Does snow spray affect runway surface friction? The weather was bitterly cold on March 18th, 2018 and Birmingham airport was covered with snow. As you can see in this video, an A380 sprays snow on the ...
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vote
1answer
184 views
Where is the weather data for the Garmin G1000 retrieved from?
In a few videos I saw the possibility of looking for example at wind data. Now my question would be where does the G1000 gets the data from?
6
votes
3answers
164 views
Is a weather briefing required? [closed]
Are pilots legally required to obtain a weather briefing prior to some or all flights?
1
vote
0answers
130 views
Did these weather conditions require the airline to cancel a flight? [duplicate]
[I do not believe this question duplicates a previous question, which involves different conditions and circumstances]
I'm interested in the airline's response to a query of mine about why a flight ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
What is the relationship between mountain breeze and air pressure?
I am studying for my PPL and am having some problems understanding the mountain breeze phenomenon, especially when it comes to my understanding of pressure.
Basically, I've read that during the day ...
7
votes
2answers
167 views
How do airlines handle SIGMETS?
In general, what is the action taken by airlines when presented with a SIGMET in the projected route. Will they go around it, cancel the flight prior to takeoff, or simply fly thought it anyway?
As ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
How do commercial pilots know turbulence is ahead? [duplicate]
On commercial flights, an announcement will be made if turbulence is expected ahead and if the route will be adjusted such as moving to a higher altitude.
How do pilots know that turbulence is ahead ...
5
votes
2answers
627 views
What is the required cloud clearance in G airspace when there are clouds just above in class E airspace?
This is my first question here and I am about to start my Private Pilot License (PPL).
Now I am flying in my Flight Simulator X. So, I am at KDKK airport. It has an elevation of 692 MSL . I got my ...
49
votes
6answers
12k views
Why was my flight cancelled due to bad weather while other flights were not?
I'm stuck in Frankfurt. I missed my connection due to a delay. I was rebooked, but this new flight was also cancelled due to bad weather.
About 30 percent of all flights were cancelled today. ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Is there a tool or site where I can see wind vectors overlaid on a prognostic chart? [closed]
I'm hoping to find a source where I can see wind vectors overlaid on a prognostic chart, to visualize how the wind moves around the pressure systems and fronts.
Curious if anyone knows of ...
11
votes
2answers
609 views
Do passengers notice if the aircraft is struck by lightning?
I recently saw a video from Valk Aviation
(actual scene)
of a KLM B777-300 struck by lightning on departure. It happened a few days ago.
I know this looks more frightening than it really is and the ...
2
votes
1answer
281 views
How is cloud height measured?
In general, cloud height is measured from ground or AMSL (above mean sea level)?
If they measure from AMSL, how are low level clouds' height measured in higher terrain?
1
vote
1answer
99 views
When temperature increases what happens to the air molecules and aircraft while landing and takeoff during hot weather?
Just out of curiosity on a hot weather with temperature increases what happens to the air molecules and aircraft during landing and takeoff?
5
votes
2answers
2k views
How to calculate outside air temperature at a certain altitude?
I am a PPL student and working on the cross-country planning.
Let's say the OAT is -13º @ 6000', how to calculate the OAT @ 7000'?
4
votes
1answer
407 views
What does “With One Minute Weather” Mean?
Yesterday I was listening to LiveATC at McClellan Field (KMCC) since many CAL Fire Tankers are stationed there and there's a lot of activity recently.
As the tankers returned from their bombing runs, ...
5
votes
1answer
226 views
On a METAR, what does DSPTD mean?
KDEN is currently reporting the following METAR:
SPECI KDEN 090325Z 34031G37KT 10SM -PLRA FEW015 OVC036 08/03 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 35037/0325 RAB04PLB25 TS DSPTD P0000 T00830028 $
I have no idea ...
2
votes
1answer
235 views
How are altimeter settings estimated?
So, I spotted another weird METAR from the same place that spawned the first one I asked about (it's a USAF base if you're wondering what kind of 'drome it is):
K... 060846Z 00000KT 10SM OVC002 18/...
0
votes
1answer
239 views
What does this A320 FCTM quote about cold weather and non-precision approaches mean? [closed]
Can someone explain this paragraph from the A320 FCTM about minimum temperatures for non-precision approaches? I can't understand it.
COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS For all Non Precision Approaches, there ...
5
votes
1answer
267 views
How can a crew be warned of “Clear Air Turbulence” during the flight?
Is there any piece of equipment, on board, to assist the crew to identify and avoid clear air turbulence (CAT)?
9
votes
1answer
815 views
Why is a TFR issued when barometric pressure exceeds 31.00 InHg?
Why does a barometric pressure above 31.00 InHg trigger a TFR?
13
votes
1answer
415 views
What does the code FU1FU2FU5 mean in this metar?
In their METAR, CYPK reported ... 25SM FEW037 SCT050 OVC250 21/15 A3016 RMK FU1FU2FU5 DENSITY ALT 400FT.
Since it's quite smokey out, I would have expected a ...
5
votes
1answer
193 views
What is the physical definition of turbulence?
To aviators, the definition of turbulence by measuring the results is widely known: example. But if we were to generate a turbulence forecast as a meteorologist, there need to be some kind of physical ...
3
votes
1answer
221 views
Aircraft lightning: What are the requirements for airworthiness?
Can you enlighten me about the airworthiness requirements in the field of lightning, for commercial aviation:
Which voltage or intensity is the aircraft required to sustain?
How is it demonstrated in ...
6
votes
2answers
723 views
What is this weird format (R06L/CLRD62) in METAR for runway being cleared?
Yesterday, this metar was published:
METAR UUEE 292000Z 07003MPS CAVOK 17/12 Q1013 R06L/CLRD62 R06R/CLRD62 NOSIG=
Can someone explain the meaning of the ...
16
votes
2answers
4k views
How is wind measured at this small U.S. airport?
While launching gliders at Front Royal, VA (KFRR) over the weekend, a fellow pilot and I got curious about the airport's weather equipment. We know that KFRR has local equipment to measure wind speed ...
